How's working for Gene Chizik working out for Gus Malzahn? (The Birmingham News / Hal Yeager)

Leave it to Gus Malzahn to break the mold.

He didn't go for the gold when another school offered to set him up financially for life.

He didn't take the first opportu­nity to be a boss in the best league in the land.

He didn't beat his best player out the door.

When the Auburn offensive coor­dinator decided not to become the Vanderbilt head coach, he didn't follow conventional wisdom. He set himself apart.

Should anyone be surprised? It's not the first time.

Malzahn went to work for Gene Chizik when most of the free world said Chizik at Auburn wouldn't work.

How's that working out?

Malzahn just tutored a Heisman winner in Cam Newton. He's 60 minutes away from completing an undefeated season and winning a national championship.

He's a few pay periods away from more than doubling his salary and becoming one of the highest-paid assistants in college football. At about $1.3 million a year, he'll make more than some head coaches.

See? The road less traveled can be paved with gold, too.

Going against the flow isn't just part of Malzahn's game plans. Remember, this is the man who chose Chris Todd as his first starting quarterback at Auburn when most of the Auburn family had written Todd off.

What was the payoff there? Todd came back from shoulder surgery and oblivion to set school records and lead the Tigers to a New Year's bowl.

If choosing Chizik and tapping Todd weren't outrageous enough, Malzahn may have outdone himself by rejecting Vanderbilt.

Conventional wisdom says, if you have a chance to become a head coach in the Southeastern Conference, and earn about $3 million a year doing it, you take it. Even if it's the worst job in the league.

What's the worst that can happen?

You lose a lot of games, make a lot of bank, get fired and go back to your former life as mild-mannered mad scientist extraordinaire.

Malzahn would be more likely to look on the bright side. With the right staff and schedule, you can win at Vandy, though not big or often.

After all, two years ago, Vanderbilt beat Auburn. The Commodores went to a bowl that season. The Tigers did not.

And still, despite the possibilities, and his faith in his own abilities, Malzahn turned down the opportunity.

It's another genius move. Who knew the author of "The Hurry-Up No-Huddle" had this kind of patience?

Malzahn wants to be a head coach, but not desperately or at any cost. He's banking on getting a better job down the road.

His decision to stay, despite the odds that Newton will go to the NFL after a command performance in the BCS Championship Game, shows that Malzahn does not fear life after Supercam.

Why should he? Look at his life before Newton. Malzahn wasn't exactly blessed with a who's who of college quarterbacks.

In fact, Newton will be the first Malzahn quarterback to get drafted.

Look at the rest of his personal roster.

Mitch Mustain, who led Arkansas to an 8-0 start as a true freshman under Malzahn in 2006? Just finished his college career as a backup at USC.

Paul Smith, who threw for 5,065 yards and 47 touchdowns as a senior under Malzahn at Tulsa in 2007? Undrafted.

David Johnson, who finished second in the nation in pass efficiency behind Heisman winner Sam Bradford under Malzahn at Tulsa in 2008?

Undrafted.

Todd, who broke the Auburn record for touchdown passes as a senior under Malzahn in 2009? Undrafted.

Newton's a giant exception, but there's a lot more evidence that Malzahn makes the quarterback rather than the other way around.

Saying no to Vanderbilt allows Malzahn to make more magic in the BCS Championship Game without distraction. It also calls a temporary halt to the takeover of SEC head coaching positions by former Auburn coordinators.

Three out of 12 - Gene Chizik, Bobby Petrino and Will Muschamp - is impressive. Four out of 12 would've been ridiculous.